I went to see Hive: the New Bees 2 at Chapel Arts, the converted funeral home at Dunlevy and Cordova last night, and I highly recommend it.
The original Hive started at Chapel Arts a number of years ago and featured alternative companies that already were or have since become stalwarts in Vancouver’s progressive scene—troupes such as electric company theatre, Felix Culpa, and The Chop.
That event was so exciting that I thought I was going to pass out. This one doesn’t reach that frenzied height, but it’s still very good.
Twelve 10-minute shows run simultaneously between 8:00 and 10:00, and you’ve got to figure out how to get into them—for one show, a handful of sand becomes your ticket—so you’ve got to work a bit to catch the good ones.
My full review will be up on straight.com this afternoon. Here, let me just give you my top recommendations.
Of the shows I caught, I particularly liked Troika Collective’s opera about Chernobyl, Tyler and Brad’s show in the darkened van, and Resounding Scream Theatre’s riff on dating.
There were also a couple of shows that got great buzz, but that shut down before I got a chance to see them: Psyche Theatre’s piece in the coat check, and Hardline Productions’ piece in the upstairs bar. (In that one, you watch through the window as action unfolds across the street.)
Overall, Hive: New Bees 2 is a trip—and my pick of the week.
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